Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
When Richard Mourdock beat Dick Lugar to win the Republican nomination for Senate in Indiana, the elite media were alarmed. Dick Lugar lost for many reasons. He ran a negative campaign, he had become far more liberal than his voters, he had served in the Senate since 1977. He treated his office as his birthright and the voters, even if they generally liked him, had a much better option in Mourdock. They took it.
But the media elites and pundits viewed it as a troubling development in the Republican Party. Claiming to express heartfelt concern, they told stories about how Ronald Reagan wouldn't have supported Mourdock. Dick Lugar was a magnanimous and generous statesman, they cried. All the major papers ran stories along these lines while Tea Party-types simply rolled their eyes at the "concern trolling" and moved on to helping out Mourdock's campaign. The same campaign that the magnanimous and generous statesman Dick Lugar has recently announced he won't support.
Anyway, yesterday a prominent Democrat became a Republican. Former Rep. Artur Davis announced his changed party status, explaining that the Democratic Party was too extreme to include his views any more. Sonny Bunch, taking a cue from those who concern trolled the right, turns the tables by merely changing a few words:
I mean, moderate politicians have been drummed out of the Democratic party or silenced as its leaders have played ball with the extremists throughout Obama’s term, rarely calling out their most outlandish and mendacious attacks. Artur Davis was your classic conservative Democrat, the sort of guy willing to reach across the aisle to get things done, you know? It’s sad to see him go.
The problem is, right before our eyes, American liberalism is becoming something very different from what it once was. Yet this transformation is happening by stealth because moderates are too afraid to acknowledge what all their senses tell them.
You see, I think this is part of a broader picture: the Democratic Party that’s left after this election will probably be even further off in left field, even further out of touch with the rest of the country, than before. You might say that Democrats will be a national party no more. Doomed to status as a rump in the northeast with an ally on the west coast, Democrats simply won’t be in tune with the needs of the country as a whole.
Let us think about this. Bill Clinton, who, as I recall, is not accused of being a right wing maniac, understood repeatedly that making deals on things like welfare reform and getting the deficit under control was an important part of governing. He could not get through a Democratic primary today. And Truman! Good god. Try getting that warmonger into office these days.
That is so nice of Mr. Bunch to express his genuine concern about the state of the Democratic Party. I'm sure we'll be hearing soon from all of those same pundits who worried about GOP extremism just a few short weeks ago.
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Mar '12
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
I left the Democrat/Farmer/Labor (DFL) party of Minnesota, the party of Hubert Humphrey, because it was becoming partisan by removing itself from a pro-life party to a pro-abortion party. I have watched a continuing series of splits as the Democrats appealed the aggrieved, slicing itself thinner and thinner. What used to be the dominant party is no longer.
The Republicans, who win many of the presidential elections, haven't yet figured out how to appeal to those people who aren't especially aggrieved - the Taxed Enough Already patriots not withstanding.
I keep wondering if a viable third party (ala the Reformed Party, or the newer Libertarian Party) will hold enough clout to begin winning races regularly.
Stay tuned. News at nine.
Nov '11
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
It would be wonderful if Mr. Davis defeated the execrable Gerry Connolly, who covered himself in dishonor during the Fast and Furious hearings. Davis sounds too sensible to be involved in politics on either side of the aisle, though.
Jun '10
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
The answer to your question:
1. The Democratic party has been taken over by the extreme left wing. They believe the path to victory requires more socialist zeal. The election of Barack Obama convinced them to put all the chips on the table.
2. The extreme left wing lives in a bubble. They can't understand why the rest of America doesn't think like they do. To them we are ignorant bitter-clingers.
3. The extreme left is dominated by ideological fanatics. They don't see any need to compromise.
If America wakes up in time, we could very well see the Democratic party marginalized for a generation. And then perhaps some new party will rise in response.
Jan '11
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
Eye-rolling is right; we've been inundated with helpful concerns from liberals about the Republicans under attack from the conservative wing. EJ Dionne has a new book that "takes on" conservative extremists, and hopes to restore the old Republican compromise-machine.
Where have you gone, Bob Michel? A nation turns its lonely eyes to you ... woo woo woo ...
Apr '12
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
The Left has long been driven by Marxism and as the right moves more Left on social issues, the unique qualities of the Left are being reduced ... to simply Marxism.
As the Marxists gain power, they demand compliance and tend to purge those not committed to the movement.
The Left is about Marxists wanting to control this massive thorn in their side: the successful US capitalist nation. Victory in the US would give them unchallenged global power. This raw drive for power is also aliening to the more sincere pols.
May '10
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
Mollie, Mollie, Mollie.... You just don't get it, do you? Democrats are purging their extremists, Republicans are purging their moderates.
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
Coming to a NYT op-ed page near you!
Jul '10
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
Dick Lugar ran a close second to John McCain as the Democratic Party's favorite Republican. He went so native I expected him to put a bone in his nose and take up voodoo.
Apr '11
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
Here is another, maybe it's the beginning of an epidemic?
"Penn. Democratic leader defects to GOP, cites Catholic faith as reason"
"The defection of a prominent Pennsylvania Democrat to the Republican Party is raising some eyebrows.
Jo Ann Nardelli, a state committeewoman and founding president of the Blair County Federation of Democratic Women, has switched her political affiliation to the GOP"
http://dailycaller.com/2012/05/29/penn-democratic-leader-defects-to-gop-cites-catholic-faith-as-reason/
Edited on May 30, 2012 at 10:37pmApr '11
Re: Why Are Democrats Forcing Out Their Moderates?
Rep. Reyes was pretty extreme, but appears to have been primaried by an even more extreme Democrat. Much as on the right, what constitutes the equivalent of tea party friendly varies considerably by electorate.